Drywall lift

ABSTRACT

A foot-actuated lifter for drywall sheets comprises a base with a rocker between a foot-engaged toe. The device can be locked in any of several height positions.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority on the basis of previously filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/151,222 filed Feb. 10, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of wall panel installation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Panels, such as gypsum board panels, are widely used in the construction industry for sheathing walls. Typical sheet sizes include 4′×8′ and 4′×12′. Panel placement depends on the dimensions of the room to be sheathed and the size of panels to be used. Sometimes panels are positioned with their lower edges disposed relatively close to floor level. Other times, panels are “stacked” upon one another against a wall, in which case, the lower edges of the upper panels can be disposed at substantial elevations above floor level. In either case, the panels need to be supported during installation. Because of the weight of the panels, installation is typically done by a pair of workers, which adds to cost, and even with two workers, installation can be difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Forming one aspect of the invention is a panel handling apparatus for supporting a panel at a desired elevated position, for sheathing a wall with said panel. The apparatus comprises a base, a rocker and a restraint mechanism. The base is disposed in use at the base of said wall. The rocker is mounted to said base for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. The rocker has a toe end and a heel portion. The heel portion is for manipulation, by the foot of a user, of the rocker about said axis. The toe end of the rocker is for supporting a lower edge of said panel. The restraint mechanism is provided to permit a user to selectively lock the rocker at a desired pivotal position which corresponds to said desired position of said panel.

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter being briefly described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, with the toe end of the rocker elevated in comparison to its position in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of encircled area 6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of encircled area 7 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

An exemplary embodiment of a panel handling apparatus 20 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-7 and will be seen to comprise a base 22, a rocker 24, a toothed bar 26, a spring 28 (shown in FIG. 7), a support 30 and a strap 32.

The base 22 includes a planar sole 34 and a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls 36 projecting upwardly away from the sole 34. For ease of manufacturing, the base 22 is constructed out of a single piece of steel, cut and bent to shape.

The rocker 24 includes a generally planar steel body 35 including a toe end 35A and a heel portion 35B. Depending from the body 35 is a pair of steel ears 38 which are pivotally mounted to the sidewalls 36 of the base 22 via a steel pintle 40 that defines a rotation axis that is parallel to the body 35 and to the sole 34.

Extending from the toe end 35A is a male quick-connect 42A, as indicated in phantom outline in FIG. 7. The male quick-connect 42A is defined by a stub length of square steel tubing, one side having defined therethrough an aperture 44, and for said aperture 44 there is provided a round protuberance 46 which is spring-biased to project through said aperture 44.

The toothed bar 26 is pivotally mounted to the base 22 and extends through a slot 48 in the rocker body 35.

The spring 28 extends between the base 22 and the bar 26 and biases the bar 26 into engagement with the rocker 24, specifically, the spring 28 biases the bar 26 into engagement with one of the end edges of the slot 48.

The support 30 comprises a post 50 and a post end 52.

The post end 52 is composed of a length of generally U-shaped channel 53 connected to a male quick connect 42B [shown in phantom outline in FIG. 2] slightly larger in dimension than quick connect 42A.

The post 50 is defined by three lengths 54, 56, 58 of square tubing. One of the lengths 56 has provided at each end a male quick-connect 42B, the quick-connects 42B being shown in phantom outline in FIG. 2. Each of the other lengths 54, 58 has an adjustable quick-connect receiver 59 at one end. Each adjustable receiver 59 is defined by a portion of tubing dimensioned to receive therewithin in snug-fitting relation the quick-connects 42B of length 56 and having a plurality of apertures 60 each adapted to receive the protuberance 46 thereof. The other ends of lengths 54, 58 each have a non-adjustable quick-connect receiver 62. Each non-adjustable receiver 62 is defined by a portion of tubing dimensioned to receive therewithin one of the quick-connects 42B, 42A of the post end 52 and the rocker 24, and having a single aperture 60 to receive the protuberance 46 thereof.

The strap 32 is coupled to the rocker 24 to overly the heel portion 35B thereof.

In use, the base 22 is disposed at the base of a wall to be sheathed, with the horizontal axis/pintle 40 orientated substantially parallel to said wall, the toe end 35A relatively proximal to the wall and the heel portion 35B relatively distal to said wall.

If the panel is to be positioned with its lower edge relatively close to floor level, the lower end of the panel is disposed on the toe end 35A of the base 22 and the support 30 is not used.

If the panel is to be positioned at a substantial elevation to floor level, the support 30 will be used. In this event, the one length 56 is inserted into the others 54, 58 and the ends of the thus-assembled post 50 are mounted to the rocker 24 and post end 52 via the quick connects 42A, 42B thereof. The quick connects 42B of the one length 56 are suitably manipulated until the protuberances 46 of said quick connects 42B are seated in respective apertures 60 of the lengths 54, 58 so as to provide a desired overall post length such that, in the assembled apparatus, the channel 53 is slightly lower than the desired height of the panel edge to be mounted. The relatively larger size of the male quick-connect 42B forming part of the support 30 provides substantial rigidity in the post 50. The relatively smaller size of the male quick-connect 42A protruding from the rocker 24 results in a connection between the rocker 24 and the post 50 that permits limited pivotal movement.

The user then positions a lower edge of the panel of wallboard to be secured in the channel 53.

Once the panel has been positioned in the channel 53, or upon the toe end 35A of the rocker, as applicable, the user places his or her foot upon the heel portion 35B and manipulates the rocker 24 to a desired pivotal position which corresponds to a desired vertical height, as indicated by the sequence of FIGS. 1, 2. During such motion, the rocker 24 acts as a pawl for the toothed bar 26, such that the rocker 24 ratchets forward along the teeth thereof. If the post 50 is in use, the post 50 pivots slightly at the post-rocker junction; absent this motion, the post would normally need to flex, to avoid movement of the panel away from the wall.

Once the panel has been secured to the wall, the user can kick forward the toothed bar 26, to overcome the bias provided by the spring 28, which releases the rocker 24 for movement back to the starting position by gravity.

Whereas but a single preferred embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described in association with a single use, it will be understood that variations can be made routinely without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, more than one panel handling apparatus can be used, to better support a panel.

As well, whereas the support illustrated includes three lengths of tube, telescoped inside one another, greater or lesser numbers of tubes could be used.

Further, whereas spring clip type quick disconnects are illustrated, other types of connections and extendable posts can be provided.

Yet further, whereas the channel illustrated is only couplable to the rocker via the post, the panel handling apparatus could routinely be modified to permit the post end to be directly coupled to the rocker.

Accordingly, the present invention should be understood as limited only by the claims appended hereto, purposively construed. 

1. Apparatus for supporting a panel at a desired elevated position for sheathing a wall with said panel, said apparatus comprising: a base disposed in use upon at the base of said wall; a rocker mounted to said base for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, the rocker having a toe end which operatively supports, in use, a lower end of said panel, and a heel portion, the heel portion being for manipulation, by the foot of a user, of the rocker about said axis; a restraint mechanism to permit a user to selectively lock the rocker at a desired pivotal position which corresponds to said desired position.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a support mounted to the toe end of the rocker and terminating in a channel for supportingly receiving said lower edge of said panel.
 3. Apparatus according claim 1, wherein the restraint mechanism comprises: a pawl defined by the rocker; and a toothed bar pivotally mounted to the base, wherein: the pawl and bar are configured such that the bar engages the pawl in a ratchet arrangement; and the bar is positioned such that it can be manipulated by the foot of the user to release the rocker for movement.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the support is mounted to the toe end of the rocker for limited pivotal movement.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the restraint mechanism further includes a spring operatively coupled to each of the bar and rocker and biased to urge the bar into engagement with the pawl.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the support comprises a post and a post end, the post end defining the channel and the post extending between the rocker and the post end.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the post is releasably couplable to the rocker.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the post end is releasably couplable to the post.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the post is adjustable in length.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 1, further including a strap coupled to the rocker to overlie the foot of the user in use. 